Other than a change in name and governance structure, the change does not affect the ability of teachers applying for certification.

Since BC College of Teachers website is now offline, teachers may go to the Teacher Regulation Branch’s website to apply for certification.

To keep students, staff, and the community members informed of the sustainability projects completed, in progress, and planned for the future, the VSB has launched an online portal called Green Board.

On the portal, there are resources and information on projects connected to zero waste, transportation, food security, and energy management. The VSB encourages participation and feedback from the community to help improve the portal and support its sustainability goals.

For the latest news on VSB’s sustainability projects, visit Green Board.

On Friday, November 25th at 7pm Pacific, the job search and online application feature on Makeafuture.ca will be temporarily offline for scheduled maintenance. The job search and online application feature will be back online on Saturday morning.

Follow @Makeafuture on Twitter for real-time updates.

Follow @Makeafuture on Twitter for real-time updates.

This plan makes B.C’s fastest growing school district, Surrey (SD 36), a priority. The district has been approved for two elementary schools, two secondary schools, and the purchasing of land that will allow for four future schools to be developed as growth increases. The district is also providing $23 million for these projects.

Additionally, Sooke School District (SD 62) will be receiving two new secondary schools, allowing for future growth and the replacement of the Belmont Secondary School. The sale of the Belmont site will provide roughly $30 million in funding for these developments. As developments begin, an estimated 1,850 jobs will be created across the province, building on ‘Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan” released this September.

Over the past ten years, the Province has provided more than $1.8 billion to build 83 schools, 149 school additions, 26 renovations, and the purchasing of 22 sites. Furthermore, the government has committed over $3.9 billion to school capital and maintenance projects.

We are expecting this maintenance work to be completed no later than Saturday evening.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

There will be a neighbourhood learning centre for preschool children, francophone community offices, a full gymnasium with lighting and sound for theatre use, and a performing arts room, also with lighting and sound.

The school was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards. It harvests rainwater, providing ground source heat, and utilized reclaimed materials in the building process.

Additionally, the school will offer an international baccalaureate (IB) middle school program. Designed for ages 11-16, the program will help students meet academic challenges, make connections between learning and the real world, and promote critical thinking.

Learn More:

École Au Coeur de L’île
Le Conseil scolaire francophone de la  Colombie-Britannique

The scholarships will focus on student performance in grades 10-12, as well as on required provincial exams.In the past, scholarships of ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 were distributed after evaluating grade twelve exam scores.

These exams included optional provincial exams, which will no longer be available. Due to post-secondary institutes devaluating optional exam grades, roughly 80 percent of students opted out, resulting in roughly $2.5 million in unclaimed scholarship funding.

These changes to the scholarship criteria will allow more funds to reach students, and it’s estimated roughly $5 million will be distributed for scholarships.

Last school year, teachers, parents, students and staff came together for several months of interactive planning to create a new vision for our district. The outcome is a goal that reflects the wants and needs of everyone within our district.

Our Vision: To be a leading district for innovative teaching and learner success.

Now we are focusing on achieving this vision, and we are doing so through inquiry. Inquiry, by definition, is a seeking for truth, information, or knowledge. A clear distinction needs to be made between inquiry and research. As described by Dr. Roland Case, co-founder of the Critical Thinking Consortium, research is in fact re-searching something. It is gathering information that someone else has already figured out. Inquiry, on the other hand, is self-discovery.

All of our 31 schools have selected an inquiry coordinator. In each school, this person’s job is to first collaboratively determine the strengths of their school and then to define an area of improvement that could truly benefit the entire school community and uphold the new Vision. From here, an official inquiry question is posed that the coordinator will seek to answer through the engagement of the teachers, staff and students.

For example, at Pinewood Elementary School, they are interested in examining how the use of Smartboards can be utilized to enhance student learning.
The whole idea is to truly focus on what the students need and to use exploration to determine the best ways to meet these needs.

“We are shifting from teachers, to facilitators of knowledge,” explained Zena Ray, Principal at Pinewood Elementary.

The inquiry process will look different in every school, but one thing will be consistent – engagement of staff and students to create the best learning environments that embrace innovative teaching and lead to individual learner success.

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If you’d like more information about this topic, please email Deneka Michaud, Manager of Communications, Delta School District dmichaud@deltasd.bc.ca.

The Board of Education of School District No. 46 (Sunshine Coast) has appointed Nicholas Weswick to the position of Secretary Treasurer. Mr. Weswick was the former Controller at District No. 60 (Peace River North).

Mr. Weswick has a Bachelor of Business Administration and is a Certified General Accountant. He will take on his new duties beginning October 2011 and is “very excited to be joining the team at the Sunshine School District.” Until then, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer John-Prichard will act as interim Secretary-Treasurer.

District 58 has New Secretary-Treasurer in Kevin Black

Kevin Black will succeed Bruce Tisdale as Secretary-Treasurer for School District 58, Nicola-Similkameen. In February of this year, Tisdale is announced his retirement after holding the position for 32 years. Mr. Black’s new position will commence in October.